Seven withdraw leave application for judicial review against EC

Seven people today withdrew their leave application for a judicial review to challenge a decision by the Election Commission in denying them the right to have a lawyer to represent them during local inquiries over the proposed redelineation of parliamentary and state constituencies in Kedah, Perak and Johor.

Senior Federal Counsel Azizan Md Arshad told reporters that the seven applicants withdrew their application as the matter had been decided at the Court of Appeal in a case brought by Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar against the EC.

Following which, he said, Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab, sitting in chambers, struck out the leave application.

The court was scheduled to hear the application today.

The application was filed by Chua Yee Ling, Chai Wee Siong, Hashim Yusof, Zamri Yusof, Muhammad Arafat, Mohd Isa Ahmad and Dr Chong Fat Full, who are represented by lawyer Shahid Adli Kamaruddin.

They named the EC and its chairman, Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah as respondents.

They named the EC and its chairman, Datuk Seri Mohd Hashim Abdullah as repondents.

The applicants were spokesperson for a group of 100 people who had objected to EC's proposed redelineation of parliamentary and state seats in Kedah, Perak and Johor.

In the application filed on Jan 31, this year, the applicants had sought a declaration that the EC's local inquiries were invalid and ought to be struck out as they were not in accordance with Article 5 of the Federal Constitution (on liberty of the person) and Section 18 and 19 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act.

Section 18 of the Act elaborated on the right to representation by counsel.

Meanwhile, Shahid Adli said his clients decided to withdraw the application after studying the judgment on Nurul Izzah's case.

He said the Court of Appeal on Feb 13 this year held that voters had no right to legal representation during the local inquiries with EC officials. - BERNAMA